Epsilon (rocket)

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search
Epsilon
Epsilon rocket.png
Artist's impression
Function Launch vehicle
Country of origin Japan
Size
Height 24.4m
Diameter 2.5m
Mass 91t
Stages 3–4
Capacity
Payload to 250x500 km orbit
3 stages		 1,200 kilograms (2,600 lb)
Payload to 500 km orbit
4 stages		 700 kilograms (1,500 lb)
Payload to 500 km SSO
4 stages		 450 kilograms (990 lb)
Launch history
Status Active
Launch sites Uchinoura
Total launches 1
Successes 1
First flight September 14, 2013
First stage - SRB-A3
Engines 1 solid
Thrust 2,271 kN[1]
Specific impulse 284 seconds[1]
Burn time 116 seconds[1]
Second stage - M-34c
Engines 1 solid
Thrust 371.5 kN[1]
Specific impulse 300 seconds[1]
Burn time 105 seconds[1]
Third stage - KM-V2b
Engines 1 solid
Thrust 99.8 kN[1]
Specific impulse 301 seconds[1]
Burn time 90 seconds[1]
Fourth stage (optional) - CLPS
Specific impulse 215 seconds[1]
Fuel hydrazine

The Epsilon rocket (イプシロンロケット Ipushiron roketto?) (formerly Advanced Solid Rocket) is a Japanese solid-fuel rocket designed to launch scientific satellites. It is a follow-on project to the larger and more expensive M-V rocket which was retired in 2006. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) began developing the Epsilon in 2007. It is designed to be capable of placing a 1.2 tonne payload into low Earth orbit.[2]

Vehicle description

The development aim is to reduce costs compared to the US$70 million launch cost of an M-V.[3] The Epsilon costs US$38 million (£23m) per launch, which is half the cost of its predecessor.[4] Development expenditures by JAXA exceeded US$200 million.[4]

To reduce the cost per launch the Epsilon uses the existing SRB-A3 as a solid rocket booster on the H-IIA rocket as its first stage. Existing M-V upper stages will be used for the second and third stages, with an optional fourth stage available for launches to higher orbits. The J-1 rocket, which was developed during the 1990s, but abandoned after just one launch, used a similar design concept, with an H-II booster and Mu-3S-II upper stages.[5]

The Epsilon is expected to have a shorter launch preparation time than its predecessors.[6][7][8] The rocket has a mass of 91 tonnes (90 long tons; 100 short tons) and is 24.4 metres (80 ft) tall and 2.5 metres (8.2 ft) in diameter.[9][10]

Due to a function called "mobile launch control",[11] the rocket needs only eight people at the launch site, compared with 150 people for earlier launches.[12]

Improved version

After the successful launch of the Epsilon first flight (demonstration flight), the improvement plan was decided to handle the planned payloads (ERG and ASNARO-2).[13]

Requirements for the improvement:[13]

  • Apogee ≧ 28700 km (summer launch), ≧ 31100 km (winter launch) of a 365 kg payload
  • Sun-synchronous orbit (500 km) of a ≧ 590 kg payload
  • Larger fairing

Planned characteristics:[13]

  • Height: 26.0 m
  • Diameter: 2.5 m
  • Mass: 95.1 t (95.4 t with optional 4th stage (post-boost stage))

Launch history

<templatestyles src="Stack/styles.css"/>

First launch of the Epsilon rocket on September 14, 2013

Epsilon rockets are launched from a pad at the Uchinoura Space Center previously used by Mu rockets. The maiden flight, carrying the SPRINT-A scientific satellite, lifted off at 05:00 UTC (14:00 JST) on September 14, 2013. The launch was conducted at a cost of $38 million.[14]

On August 27, 2013, the first planned launch of the rocket had to be aborted 19 seconds before liftoff because of a botched data transmission. A ground-based computer had tried to receive data from the rocket 0.07 seconds before the information was actually transmitted.[15]

The initial version of Epsilon has a payload capacity to low Earth orbit of up to 500 kilograms,[16][17] with the operational version expected to be able to place 1,200 kilograms (2,600 lb) into a 250 by 500 kilometres (160 by 310 mi) orbit, or 700 kilograms (1,500 lb) to a circular orbit at 500 kilometres (310 mi) with the aid of an hydrazine fueled stage.[4]

Date/Time (UTC) Stages Payload Orbit (km) Outcome Remarks
September 14, 2013, 05:00 4[18] SPRINT-A (HISAKI) 950 x 1,150 x 31° Successful[4] 340 kg satellite

Epsilon's second mission was originally scheduled for 2015 with a mission to study solar storm effects on Earth,[4] but this has been postponed to the 2016 financial year due to satellite development delays.[19]

Internet data leak

In November 2012, JAXA reported that there had been a possible leak of rocket data due to a computer virus. JAXA had previously been a victim of cyber-attacks, possibly for espionage purposes.[20] Solid-fuel rocket data potentially has military value,[20] and Epsilon is considered as potentially adaptable to an intercontinental ballistic missile.[21] The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency removed the infected computer from its network, and said its M-V rocket and H-IIA and H-IIB rockets may have been compromised.[22]

See also

References

<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />

Cite error: Invalid <references> tag; parameter "group" is allowed only.

Use <references />, or <references group="..." />

External links

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Epsilon Launch Vehicle Information
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Retrieved from "https://infogalactic.com/w/index.php?title=Epsilon_(rocket)&oldid=722774890"